08.02.23

Around The Farm

The Joys of a Summer Plum Harvest on The Farm
By Alex Ball, Sophomore, Urban Farming and Food Systems Intern

Hi everyone! My name is Alex and I’m the new UW Food Systems intern for summer and fall here at the UW Farm. I’m also going into my second year at UW, planning to declare the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health major during Fall quarter. 
  

Scientific name: Cornus mas 
Common name: Cornelian cherry, European cornel, Cornelian cherry dogwood
Family: Cornaceae (Dogwoods)
Native range: Southern and central Europe to western Asia
Location: At the Center for Urban Horticulture, there is a grove located in the northern lawn area along the central drive and the trees’ accession numbers are 87-90. At the Arboretum, there are three specimens under the accession number of 704-38 (grid 33-B) from the original planting of the Woodland Garden in 1938. 

The horticulture staff at the Washington Park Arboretum are constantly planting new trees. These new plantings increase species diversity within the collection, succeed dead or declining trees, contribute to future increased canopy coverage and much, much more. All of the trees mentioned in this article were planted over the last year and are located within the Pinetum on the west side of Lake Washington Boulevard. 

07.26.23

Around The Farm

The Joys of a Summer Plum Harvest
By Alex Ball, Sophomore, Urban Farming and Food Systems Intern

Hi everyone! My name is Alex and I’m the UW Farm Campus Food Systems intern for summer and fall quarters here at the UW Farm. I’m also going into my second year at UW, planning to declare the Food Systems, Nutrition, and Health major in the School for Public Health, during Fall quarter. 
  

07.19.23

Around The Farm

UW Farm Gains Bee Mentor and Re-starts Beekeeping

By Kove Janeski, UW Farm Student Staff, Operations Lead, Masters of Landscape Architecture candidate 
 
It is the most exciting – and busiest – time of the year at the UW Farm. As Seattle continues to experience an especially dry summer, the Farm team is working hard with volunteers to ensure a successful growing season. 

07.12.23

Around The Farm

Sweet Bay: Culinary Wonder, Evergreen Perennial and Powerful Protector

By Perry Acworth, UW Farm Manager
Held in my hand is a small bundle of sweet bay, one of 70 bundles heading to households this week as part of our Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program. Slowly over the seasons, this aromatic herb has gradually moved from an ignored perennial to a reliable, resilient, culinary treat – a staple at the UW Farm.   

Hardy Fuchsia love sun and do fine in part shade.  Once established they tend to be drought hardy plants – I have one in my yard that I never water in summer and it has thrived over the past 15 years.  They are the hardiest species of the Fuchsia genus and are rated for USDA Zones 6 & 7.

07.05.23

Around The Farm

Polyculture and the Three Sister's Growing Method

By Chrina Munn, UW Farm AmeriCorps Food Security Lead, UW Alum '20
Hi, my name is Chrina and I am the '22-'23 AmeriCorps Food Security Lead for the UW Farm. I started my service in the fall of last year and got to experience the end of the 2022 growing season. 

1)    Libertia peregrinans                                                             New Zealand Iris

An iris in which each bloom only lasts a day, but blooms prolifically for several weeks.
Named/honored after Mde. Maire-Anne Libert, a Belgian botanist, mycologist, and plant pathologist.
Has sword-shaped leaves, only about one foot high off the ground, and easy-to- miss blooms.
Found in the New Zealand Entry Garden, at the north entrance of John Wott Way (U-shaped path). 

06.28.23

Around The Farm

UW Farm and UW Architecture Celebrate Ribbon Cutting of World Cultural Kitchen

By Perry Acworth, UW Farm Manager

On June 8th, at the Center for Urban Horticulture, the UW Farm and the College of Built Environments, Neighborhood Design-Build Studio course celebrated the completion of the first phase of a World Cultural Kitchen. 
It was funded in part by a 2021 grant from the American Public Garden and UW Botanic Garden Urban Agriculture Resiliency Program, a Campus Sustainability Fund grant, and neighbor, Northwest Horticulture Society  board member and donor, Emily Dexter.